For four days after their Sunday in the Park the Bunnersisters had no news of Mr. Ramy. At first neither one betrayed herdisappointment and anxiety to the other; but on the fifth morningEvelina, always the first to yield to her feelings, said, as sheturned from her untasted tea: "I thought you'd oughter take thatmoney out by now, Ann Eliza."Ann Eliza understood and reddened. The winter had been afairly prosperous one for the sisters, and their slowly accumulatedsavings had now reached the handsome sum of two hundreddollars; but the satisfaction they might have felt in this unwontedopulence had been clouded by a suggestion of Miss Mellins's thatthere were dark rumours² concerning the savings¹ bank in which theirfunds were deposited. They knew Miss Mellins was given to vainalarms; but her words, by the sheer force of repetition, had soshaken Ann Eliza's peace that after long hours of midnight counselthe sisters had decided³ to advise with Mr. Ramy; and on Ann Eliza,as the head of the house, this duty had devolved. Mr. Ramy, whenconsulted, had not only confirmed the dress-maker's report, but hadoffered to find some safe investment which should give the sistersa higher rate of interest than the suspected savings bank; and AnnEliza knew that Evelina alluded⁴ to the suggested transfer.

　　"Why, yes, to be sure," she agreed. "Mr. Ramy said if he wasus he wouldn't want to leave his money there any longer'n he couldhelp.""It was over a week ago he said it," Evelina reminded her.

　　"I know; but he told me to wait till he'd found out for sureabout that other investment; and we ain't seen him since then."Ann Eliza's words released their secret fear. "I wonderwhat's happened to him," Evelina said. "You don't suppose he couldbe sick?""I was wondering too," Ann Eliza rejoined; and the sisterslooked down at their plates.

　　"I should think you'd oughter do something about that moneypretty soon," Evelina began again.

　　"Well, I know I'd oughter. What would you do if you was me?""If I was YOU," said her sister, with perceptibleemphasis and a rising blush, "I'd go right round and see if Mr.

　　Ramy was sick. YOU could."The words pierced Ann Eliza like a blade. "Yes, that's so,"she said.

　　"It would only seem friendly, if he really IS sick. IfI was you I'd go to-day," Evelina continued; and after dinner AnnEliza went.

点击收听单词发音  

1 savings
n.存款，储蓄
参考例句：
I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。 By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

2 rumours
n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传
参考例句：
The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。 Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。

3 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 alluded
提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
In your remarks you alluded to a certain sinister design. 在你的谈话中，你提到了某个阴谋。 She also alluded to her rival's past marital troubles. 她还影射了对手过去的婚姻问题。

5 humble
adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低
参考例句：
In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。 Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

6 veins
n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理
参考例句：
The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的，感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 latch
n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁
参考例句：
She laid her hand on the latch of the door.她把手放在门闩上。 The repairman installed an iron latch on the door.修理工在门上安了铁门闩。

8 lustreless
adj.无光泽的，无光彩的，平淡乏味的
参考例句：
The early autumn was lustreless and slack. 初秋的日子是黯淡、萧条的。 来自辞典例句 The day was cool and rather lustreless; the first note of autumn had been struck. 这天天气阴凉，光线暗淡，秋色已开始来临。 来自辞典例句

9 emboldened
v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。 His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

11 rheumatism
n.风湿病
参考例句：
The damp weather plays the very devil with my rheumatism.潮湿的天气加重了我的风湿病。 The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。

12 unwillingly
adv.不情愿地
参考例句：
He submitted unwillingly to his mother. 他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。 Even when I call, he receives unwillingly. 即使我登门拜访，他也是很不情愿地接待我。

13 unaware
a.不知道的，未意识到的
参考例句：
They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。 I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

14 afterward
adv.后来；以后
参考例句：
Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。 Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

15 gasped
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要
参考例句：
She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。 People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

16 consonants
n.辅音，子音( consonant的名词复数 )；辅音字母
参考例句：
Consonants are frequently assimilated to neighboring consonants. 辅音往往被其邻近的辅音同化。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Vowels possess greater sonority than consonants. 元音比辅音响亮。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

17 maidenhood
n. 处女性, 处女时代
参考例句：